Several residents used the public-comment period Wednesday to press the City Council of Chester for action on street repairs, property maintenance and traffic enforcement in multiple neighborhoods.

Joseph Morris Jr., of 2513 West Seventh Street, told council a hole at 2509 West Seventh Street has existed for about 20 years and currently has only a steel plate covering it. “Will that eventually be fixed, or is it still paid?” Morris asked; the public works director, Andrew Heyman, told the council staff would send someone to inspect and attempt to resolve the problem.

Ricketa Robinson said grass on a lot in the 1,000 block of Morton Avenue had been cut but the clippings were left, creating an untidy appearance on a route used by people traveling to nearby Stafford Stadium. She also raised speeding and safety concerns at a signal on Chestnut Street near Ninth, saying drivers “speed” and that children’s safety is at risk. Deputy Mayor West asked that signal services review the timing to determine whether the signal provides adequate crossing time.

Bridget Flynn described an increase in unhoused people entering neighborhood lots and reported loitering near the corner of Tenth and Upland. She said a burned-out church property on East Ninth Street had collapsed and a fence around it blocks the sidewalk, forcing children walking to Community Charter to use Ninth Street. Flynn asked for assistance cutting weeds behind the church and for the city to address the blocked sidewalk; council staff said the issue would be reviewed by licensing and inspections and the streets department.

Flynn also urged enforcement of restrictions on tractor-trailer traffic on Ninth Street and Upland Street, saying a 2022 council action limited commercial traffic on Ninth. City staff said commercial vehicles should not be parked on residential streets and that there are stretches where tractor-trailers are not permitted; staff committed to follow up with research and enforcement options and to meet with Flynn after the meeting to coordinate assistance with her alley work.

The council asked staff to inspect the reported sites (the hole at 2509 West Seventh, the lot on Morton Avenue and the boarded/burned-out property on East Ninth), to have signal services review the Chestnut Street traffic signal, and to have licensing and inspections evaluate the overgrown lot for code enforcement. Council members did not take immediate formal votes on the public complaints but recorded commitments to send staff to investigate and follow up with complainants.